Middle School Mathletes Make High Marks for Hawken

On Saturday, March 14, while most Hawken students were enjoying their first day of Spring Break, four middle school students made their way to Columbus State College to compete in the 25th annual State Mathcounts Tournament. Earning this privilege with a second place performance at the regional meet, eighth graders Russell Cohen and Arthur Erlendsson, and seventh graders Elliot Glazer and Shang-Shang Chen achieved an impressive tenth place out of the 32 teams statewide. In addition, Russell placed 19th out of the 208 individual competitors and Elliot placed 15th, earning a position in the Countdown Round. This round is a test of speed and mental agility where the top 16 competitors duel in pairs to see who can solve the first two of three challenging problems correctly. With his amazing skills in analysis and speed in calculation, Elliot advanced to a fourth place standing overall in this round. Congratulations to the 2009 middle school Mathcounts team! At the conclusion of the Continental Mathematics League Contest, a five round series of competitive problem-solving that runs from November through March, Hawken is proud to recognize two National Student Leaders, seventh grader Elliot Glazer, and sixth grader, Jack Weisman. Each of these students maintained a perfect score through the five rounds. Congratulations Elliot and Jack! The American Mathematics Competition, otherwise known as the AMC 8, is offered to many Hawken Middle School Students. This year, a Certificate of Distinction was awarded to the first place participants at each grade level-sixth grader Jack Weisman, seventh grader Elliot Glazer, and eighth grader Russell Cohen. In addition, Hawken math teachers were recently informed that Elliot and Russell were the top grade level winners for this competition in the entire state of Ohio. Several seventh grade students decided to accept the challenge of participating in the AMC 12, a competition usually reserved for high school students. One student, Elliot Glazer, earned a score that entitled him to advance to the AIME exam, which he will take on in April. Such accomplishment is rare at the seventh grade level. Good luck, Elliot! Hawken`s many talented and motivated mathematics students are a testimony to our strong program and their commitment to excellence. We share their pride in seeking challenge and achieving honor.